Farmers' Response to the use of Organic Fertilizers on Butternut Squash in Pamekasan Regency
Abstract
Farmers still rely on chemical fertilizers for cultivating butternut squash in Pamekasan Regency. Agricultural extension programs have been conducted to educate farmers about the benefits of organic fertilizers for butternut squash plants. The objective of this study is to determine farmers' responses to the use of organic fertilizers in butternut squash cultivation. The research method employed is qualitative descriptive analysis. The results indicate that the adoption rate of organic fertilizers in butternut squash cultivation in Pamekasan Regency is low. Only 13% of butternut squash farmers use organic fertilizers as a supplement to chemical fertilizers, while 87% still rely entirely on chemical fertilizers. This low adoption rate is influenced by farmers' perceptions that organic fertilizers may reduce income, alack of knowledge about organic fertilizer management, and dependence on chemical fertilizers, which are considered more practical. The factor influencing farmers' response to the use of organic fertilizers on butternut squash is farming experience.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
A healthy diet has been proven to have a positive impact on maintaining both physical and mental health in society (Özenoǧlu et al., 2021). A healthy diet can be defined as a pattern of food intake that has beneficial effects on health or at least does not cause any harmful effects (Stevenson, 2017). The first step in adopting a healthy diet begins with balancing calorie intake and expenditure, limiting fat intake, switching from saturated fats to unsaturated fats, eliminating industrially produced trans fats, and restricting sugar and salt consumption (World Health Organization, 2019).
Butternut squash is a healthy food alternative that can be chosen by the community. In addition to being filling due to its high carbohydrate content, butternut squash is also beneficial for health as it contains a rich amount of fiber, vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential minerals. These nutrients can boost the immune system and help fight free radicals. Additionally, the orange color of butternut squash indicates the presence of beta-carotene, which can help reduce the risk of cancer. Moreover, butternut squash contains B-complex vitamins such as niacin, folate, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and thiamine, as well as minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and copper (Logistik BPPI, 2016 in Kurniati et al., 2018).
One of the health benefits of butternut squash is its ability to help control blood sugar levels, which is attributed to the presence of ethanolic extract in the fruit (Junita et al., 2017; Marbun, 2022). Another benefit of butternut squash is its role as an antidiabetic (Adams et al., 2011; Chang et al., 2014), it helps in insulin production and improves pancreatic cells (Jin et al., 2013; Makni et al., 2010), additionally, the oil from butternut squash seeds, which contains chromium, plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism by enhancing chromium absorption (Glew et al., 2006).
The development of butternut squash cultivation has been growing inline with the healthy lifestyle adopted by society. This development primarily occurs in areas that meet the growth requirements of butternut squash, which include a temperature range of 18–30°C, humidity levels of 65%, and an elevation of 0–1200 meters above sea level (Lolliani, 2017). Pamekasan Regency is one of the areas with characteristics that are suitable for the growth requirements of butternut squash. Pamekasan Regency is located at an elevation of 6–312 meters above sea level, with an average temperature ranging from 27.3°C to 28.9°C, and humidity levels between 44% and 98% (Badan Pusat Statistik, 2024). As a result, many farmers in Pamekasan Regency have started cultivating butternut squash.
The cultivation of butternut squash by farmers in Pamekasan Regency still relies heavily on chemical fertilizers. The use of chemical fertilizers on plants can increase the residue of chemicals on butternut squash fruit. Additionally, the use of chemical fertilizers on butternut squash crops also has an adverse impact on environmental degradation (Savci, 2012). Based on this, the researcher is interested in providing education to farmers about the benefits of organic fertilizers for butternut squash. The researcher conducts extension activities based on trials using various types of organic fertilizers on butternut squash plants. The aim of this research is to determine farmers' response to the use of organic fertilizers on butternut squash.
Conclusion
1. The use of organic fertilizers in butternur squash cultivation in Pamekasan Regency is still very low, with only 13% of farmers using it as a supplement to chemical fertilizers, while 87% of farmers rely entirely on chemical fertilizers. This low adoption rate is influenced by farmers' belief that organic fertilizers may reduce their income. 2. The extension activities conducted have successfully changed the views of some farmers in Pamekasan Regency, who are now more open to the use of organic fertilizers due to their abundant availability. However, the main challenges in its implementation are the limited understanding of organic fertilizer production techniques, the initial production costs, and the farmers' habit of relying on chemical fertilizers. Therefore, more intensive education and technical training are needed so that farmers can optimally adopt organic fertilizers for more sustainable agriculture. 3. The factor of farming experience significantly influences farmers' responses to the use of organic fertilizers on butternut squash.
